Coffee making machine or percolator



06k. 5, 1937. E, FROMWlLLER 2,094,981

COFFEE MAKING MACHINE OR PERCOLATOR Filed June 7, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet laz pm WTOR ATTORNE 5 Oct. 5, 1937. E. FROMWILLER COFFEE MAKING MACHINEOR PERCOLATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Filed June 7, 1935 INVENTOR L ATTORNEY"I. U0 8 4 rwi Man Get. 5, 1937. FROMWILLER 2,094,981

COFFEE MAKING MACHINE OR PERCOLATOR 16 a z N 06/ ATTORNE 5 Patented Oct.5, 1937 sra UNITE I oorrnn MAKHNG MACHINE on PERCOLATOR EdwardFromwiller, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 7, 1935, Serial No. 25,386

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a coffee making machine or percolator by meansof which a supply of hot water is available for any purpose for which itmay be needed and at the same time a 5 separate supply of hot water isavailable for making coffee. The latter supply of hot water can be drawnoff and percolated through coffee grounds for making coifee in amountsthat are in accordance with the amount of coffee grounds that are in thecoffee grounds container and the amounts of the hot water used can alsobe varied for the purpose of varying the strength of the coffee that ismade. Provision is also made whereby fresh water can be supplied at willfor washing the inside of the coffee container whenever desired andfresh supplies of water are automatically furnished from an outsidesource to be heated for the general hot water supply and also for thehot water supply for making coffee. Provision is also made wherebyopening a cover or lid, inserting a coifee grounds container, and

closing the cover causes hot water to be sprayed over and percolatethrough the coffee grounds in measured amounts. The supply of water forthe containers can be replenished whenever needed. The hot watercontainer is provided with a safety valve for steam and provision ismade for filling one of the-containers to the desired amount with freshwater before the other container or compartment is filled.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is plan view of anillustrative embodiment of the invention with the top or cover omitted;Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover in place; Fig. 3 is a frontview; Fig. l is a vertical section along the line 5-4 of Fig. 1 with thecover omitted; Fig. 5 is a plan view of some of the details on anenlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a vertical section on an enlarged scaleshowing some of the details; Fig. 7 is a vertical section through thedevice on an enlarged scale showing valve arrangements; Fig. 8 is a sideview, partly F in section, showing more of the details; Fig. 9 is avertical section on an enlarged scale showing certain parts; Fig. 10 isa plan view, partly broken away, similar to Fig. 1 showing parts inother positions, and Fig. 11 is a section through one of the valves onan enlarged scale.

In the drawings reference character l indicates a closed container,which is preferably made of metal, such as copper. This container isprovided with a cover l spaced from it. This container is divided intotwo tanks or compartments 2 and 3 by means of a partition 4, which ispreferably heat insulated, which extends from the bottom of thecontainer 5 and terminates a short distance from the top, therebypermitting free communication between the upper ends of the tanks Zand 3in this container. An overflow pipe 5 is provided through the partition4 from the tank it to the tank 2. A safety Valve 6 (Figs.

1 and 2) is provided for the tank I to relieve excess steam pressure andwater level gauges I and 8 are provided along the front side for the 10tanks 2 and 3 respectively.

An approximately semi-circular recess 9 is provided at the front of thetank l and a catch basin and drain it is provided in front near thebottom of the tanks 2 and 3. A cylindrical glass 15 coffee urn islocated so as to extend partly into the somewhat cylindrical spaceprovided by the recess 9. This coffee urn includes a glass jar ll (Fig.l) and a glass jacket 52 spaced from the jar ii leaving a. space [3between the two.

A support it is provided at the lower end of the coffee urn and a hollowspacing member [5 (Figs. 4 and 9) extends through the jars H and i2 andthe support Id to keep the jar H and jacket E2 in place and to permitwithdrawal of coffee from the jar H. An outlet pipe l6 having a valve16' leads from the hollow spacing member it so that coffee can bewithdrawn from the jar it when desired. An outlet pipe ll (Figs.

1, 2 and 3) provided with a valve ll leads from the hot watercompartment 2, thus making hot water available whenever desired.

A cylindrically shaped flanged support I8 .(Fig. 4) having its rear sidelonger than its front side rests upon the upper end of the jacket I2anda removable, cylindrically shaped coffee grounds holder l9 has aflange or rim [8 that rests upon the flange of the support I8. This.coffee grounds holder 19 has a perforated bottom 2% upon which astrainer or filter 2i may be 0 placed to'permit hot'water that issprayed or otherwise introduced into the holder to percolate through thecoiTee grounds.

A dome-shaped lid or cover 22 (Figs. 1-4) for the cofiee urn is hinged,as shown at 23, and may be turned about this hinge by means of thehandle 24.

A plate 25'(Figs'. 1, 4, 5 and 6) is located above the container i andbelow the cover I and is spaced from each. A guide slot 26, (Figs. 1, 50

and 10) which is of arcuate shape a portion of the way and is turnedoutwardly at its inner end, as shown at -26, is provided in the plate25. Another arcuate shapedguide slot 21 concentricwith the slot 26 isprovided in this plate.

2 'rwn guide slots 28 and 29 having their inner ends merging into eachother are also provided in this plate. A rod 30 (Figs. 1, 2, 4, and ispivoted to the lid 22, as shownat 3|. It has a downwardly extending end32 which slides in the slots 28 and 29. The rod 30 carries a cross arm33 at its end, one end of this cross arm slid-' roller 38 that islocated above the plate 25. The

arm 39 of the lever 34'extends across the slot 28.

An L-shaped lever 40 (Figs. 5, 6 and 10) is pivoted below the plate 25on the bolt 4|. The outer end of the arm 42 of the lever 40 is pivotedto one end of the strap or rod 43, as shown at 44.

,The other end of the strap or rod 43 is pivoted to the projection 31 onthe arm 36; The arm 45 ofthe lever 40 extends across the slot '29 and astop 46 is attached to the plate 25 to limit the movement of this leverin one direction. A lever 41 is also pivoted on the bolt 4| and has aprojection 48 on the other side of the bolt 4| for a purpose to bedescribed. The lever 47 also extends across the slot 29. A wide lever 56is pivoted at 5| onthe upper side of the 'plate 25 and has an open slot52 at its front end and an angular slot 53 near its other end.

A rod 55 (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 10) provided with a curved plate 56 at oneend slides through a hole in the support I8 below the plate 25 and itsother end is bent upwardly as shown at 51 and extends through the slot53 and is kept in place therein by a cross bar 58 attached to it, whichcross bar slides along the upper surface of the lever 50. A tensionspring 59 having one end anchored to the plate 25, as shown at 60,has'its other end connected to the bent end of the rod 55, as shown at6|.

A rectangularly shaped shaft 62 .(Figs.5,' 6 and 8) has its ends roundedand journalled in holes in the walls 63 above the top of the containerI. A support 64 is provided for a series of valves 65, 65 and. 65" thatare normally closed by springs in the well known way. An arm- 66 isattached to the shaft 62 and extends downwardlyinto the path of theextension 48 of 55 the lever 41 so that when the lever 41 is turned inone direction the shaft 62 will also be turned in its bearings. A slide68, which fits loosely around the shaft 62, is provided with an arm 69which presses against the lower ends of the valve stems 10 of the valves65, 65' and 65", respectively,.in accordance with the position oiv thisslide on the shaft 62 so as to open the corresponding valve when thelever 41 is turned, as will be described below. 7

A connector II (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 11) has a projection I2extending loosely into the guide slot 26 and also has a hook or catch 13for the roller 38. The connector II is pivoted to the arm I4 of theshaft 15. The shaft I5 passes through the housing I6 (Figs. 7 and 11)and is journalled in water-tight bearings in the walls thereof. Theshaft I5 may be turned manually by the arm or handle I4. An inlet 11' towhich a cold water supply pipe leads is provided for the housing I6. Avalve I8 is providedbetween iaoegesi spacing member I5 to a point in thetheinlet I1 and housing 76. A spring 11 noimally keeps this valveclosed. An arm I9 carried by the shaft I5 opens the valve I8 by pressingagainst the valve stem I8 when the shaft 75 is turned. Another arm 80'carried by the shaft '55 has its end extending into a crotch 80 of thestem of the valve 8|. A valve seat or opening 82 is provided in the wallof the container I for the valve 8!. The valve opening 82 providespassage from the housing I6 to a conduit 83 inside of the container I.

in the wall I, which provides communication between'the compartment 2 ofthe container and an inner housing 86 within the housing I6 when thisopening is open. An outlet pipe 8! (Figs. 2, 3 and 11) extends from thehousing I6 to the drain pan I0. A valve closure 88 for the end of theoutlet pipe 3? is attached to the shaft I5 and closes this outlet whenthis shaft is turned into a certain position. .A branch pipe 89 (Fig. 2)provided with a valve 90 extends from the pipe I i to the container 93.An air or steam outlet pipe 92 (Figs. 2, 3, 7 and 11) extends from thehousing 76 to the pipe I6 near the valve IGL An overflow pipe 65 extendsfrom a closed container 93 surrounding the lower end of the hollow pipe81 near the housing 25.

A spout 65 (Fig. is pivoted at the end of the conduit 83 so as to directincoming water to either, side of the partition 4.

A stem 36 (Fig. 7) of. the valve 8| has an arm- 3? which opens the valve98 by means of its stem 99. A weight 500 is pivoted at IOI toclose thevalve 8i and a weight I02 is pivoted at I03 to close the valve 98.Afslide I04 is attached tothe end of the valve stem 96 and carries aweight I 85 pivotedat I06. The arm I 01 of the slide I64 is providedwith a pin I06 that extends into and slides along the slot I69 in afixed member its below a portion of the conduit 83.

Anopening or valve seat 85 is provided below the opening 82 A float I I0 for the tank 3 is pivoted at I I I onthe;

fixedmember I09 by means of the rod H2 and arm H3. A lug II4 on the armH3 is provided to catch behind the upper edge of the flatend of theweight I65. The lower edge of this flat endstrikes against, the shoulderII5 on the slide I 04 to limit the movement of the weight I05 in aclockwise direction. A float H8 is pivoted on a fixed member at H9 bymeans of the rod E26. A finger I2I is provided on the. rod I20 beyondthe pivot M9 to contact with a lip or extension !22 on the pivoted spout95.

The hollow member I5 (Figs. 4 and 9) is clamped in place by the hollowflanged part I25 screwing into the hollow flanged portion I26, withgaskets I2'I bearing upon opposite sides of the,

edges of the openings through the bottoms of the glass jars II and I2. Athreaded pipe I28 that is of larger diameter than the main portion ofthe part I25 is screwed into place, as shown at I29, leaving an annularchannel I30. The communication from the container 93 to the'space I 3between the jars I I and'IZ is provided through the channel I30 by meansof the openings I3I and I32. 7

A plurality of tubes I35, I35 and I35" (Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8) that aresomewhat flexible extend into the hot water tank 3 and lead to thevalves 65, 65 and 65 respectively. The lower ends of 7 the tubes I35,I35 and I35" are bent up and are carried by adjust-able supports I36, I36' and |36.. These supports are in the form of racks with teeth on oneedge which mesh with pinions I 31,

I31" and" I31" ofincreasing sizes respectively, that are carried by theshaft I38 that is journalled in suitable bearings and has a handle I39for turning it extending into access of the user. A pipe I40 leads fromthe three valves 65, 65 and 65" to a sprayer I4I located above the jarII. Thepipe IAI! is provided with a swivel joint so that the sprayer I4Ican be moved with the cover 22.

A shaftI43 (Fig.8) is journalled as indicated at I44 and is providedwithan operating knob I45 that is accessible to the user. The inner end ofthis shaft is bent upwardly as indicated at I46 and is pivotallyconnected to the slide 68 so that by turningthe shaft I43 this slide maybe moved along the shaft 62 so that its arm 59 will contact with thedesired stem Ill of whichever valve 65, 65 or 65" is to be opened.

A burner I50 (Fig. 4) may be provided below the container 93 for heatingit, and the tanks 2 and 3 maybe heated in any convenient way, as forexample by having burners I5 I. below them from which hot products ofcombustion pass through the pipes I52 (Fig. 1), or heating gases fromothersouroes may be passed through these pipes for the same purpose.

- The operation is as follows:

- It will beassumed that the tank 3 is full of hot water, the coffeegrounds container I9 has been placed in position to push the rod 55 intothe position shown in Fig. 5 and that the cover 22 is open, thus holdingthe rod 39 in the position shown in this figure. When the cover or lid22 is closed the downwardly extending portion 32 of the rod 39 turns thearm 45 about its pivot 4!, thus causing its end 48 to press against thearm 66 on the shaft 62 '(Figs. 5 and 6) thus turning this shaft andcausing the arm 69 on the slide 68 to open one of the valves 65, 65' or65" by pressing one of the valve stems I0 upwardly. The operator willhave to move the slide 68 to the valve 65, 65' or I55", depending uponthe amount of coffee grounds that have been put in the container I9 andtherefore upon the amount of hot water he wishes to be passed throughthese coffee grounds. The slide 68 can be operated by turning the handleI45 (Fig. 8) to the position where the water level in the tank 3 will bedecreased to the lower end of the pipe I35, I35 or I35 as needed. Thiscan be repeated so long as the water level in the tank 3 is above theinlets to one of the pipes I35, I35 and I35. The gears I31 on the shaftI38 are of different sizes so that an adjustment to make more or lesswater flow through one charge of coffee grounds would not add to orsubtract from the amount for the next charge. The operation may berepeated so long as the container 3 has suflicient hot water therein.When it is desired to replenish the supply of water for the tank I orcontainers 2 and 3 the lid or cover 22 is opened sufficiently to carrythe end 32 of the rod 30 to the junction of the slots 28 and 29 (Fig.5). When this is done and the container I9 is removed the spring 59turns the arm 50 to place the end 32 in the end of the slot 28 (Fig.10). The previous operation of closing the lid or cover 22 had turnedthe lever 40, thus causing the arm 42 and strap 43 to press the arm 36into position where the roller 38 was caught behind the hook I3, withthe arm 33 extending across the slot 28,'as shown in Fig. 10. With theparts in the position shown in this figure when the cover or lid 22 isclosed the end 32 of the rod 39 turns the arm 34, thus pulling the arm II, turning the shaft I5 (Fig. 7) and opening the valves 78, BI and 85,whereupon cold water enters the inlet 11 and passes through the-housingI8 and opening 82 through the conduit 83.

If the container 2 is not full the float II8 causes the spout 95 todirect water into this container 2. If the float is in the positionshown in Fig. '7 the incoming water passes through the spout'95 into thecontainer 3. When the cover reaches near its closed position and opensthe valves as just described, the hook I3 passing into :the end 26' ofthe slot 23 becomes disconnected from the roller 38 so that the arm IIis free, but the catch I I4 has in the meantime caught behind the latchI95, thus keeping the valves 18,.82 and 85 open until the float H9 israised because of the tank 3 becoming filled with water until the catchH4 is disconnected from the end ofthe pivoted latch I95. When the tanks2 and 3'be-.

'comefilled the spring II' returns the shaft I5 to its normal positionand closes the valves I8, 82 and 1 35. While these valves were open thevalveclosure 88 had moved into position to close the outlet pipe 81 sothe water could not passto the drain.

While water was entering the tanks 2 and 3 and displacing steam or airin the upper portion of the container this steam or air passed through Vthe valve 85 and pipe 92 into the'pipe I5 (Fig. 2)

and thence through the, hollow member I5 into the coffee in the jar II,thus agitating this coffee and also removing any cool coffee that mighthave collected in the pipe I6 into thejar IIwhere it would be kept hot.

Hot water can be introduced into the space I3 within the jacket I2simply by opening the valve 90, whereupon hot water passes through aportion of the pipe I! and thence through the branch pipe 89 to theclosed container 93 from which it passes through the openings I3I,annular space I30 and openings I32 into the space I3. When the valve 90is closed this does not close the pipe ll, but leaves it free for hotwater to be drawn through it from the tank 2 by opening the valve II.After the coffee has been taken out of the jar II and it is desired towash this jar this can be done by admitting enough water into the spaceI3 to overflow the upper edge of the jar II. There is no danger ofoverflowing the jar I2 because the upper end of the outlet pipe 9I fromthe container 93 is slightly below the upper edge of the jar I2.

Hot water can be drawn from the tank 2 by opening the valve II' (Fig. 2)whenever hot water isneeded for making'tea, or for other purposes,without disturbing the supply of hot water in the tank 3 for makingcoffee, and by turning the handle M (Fig. 11) manually the valves I8, 8|and 85 (Fig. '7) can be opened whenever desired for introducing waterinto the tanks 2 and 3 without lifting and closing the cover 22 whichI8, SI and 85, if at all, because as soon as the hook I2 was withdrawnfrom the roller 38 by the end 26 of the slot these valves would beimmediately closed by the spring 11, asthe float III) would prevent thecatch II4 from holding these valves open under such conditions.

'A certain amount of steam pressure is maintained above the water levelin the tanks 2 and .3 which is sufficient to force the water through thepipes I35, I35 and [35"and the sprayer 14! into the jar II when avalver65, 65' or 65 is opened.

' I claim: 7

1.' In a coffee making device, a hot water. receptacle, a cofiee jar, apivoted cover over said jar,

and means operated by said cover for establishing communication betweensaid receptacle and jar and replenishingthe supply of water to said re.-

ceptacle.

2. In a coffee making device, a hot water receptacle, a cofiee jar, apivoted cover over said and having a valve, a cover over said jar, and

means operated by said cover for opening said valves.

4. In a coffee making device, a hot Water re ceptaclefalfresh watersupply leading to said receptacle and having a valve, a cofiee jar, aconnection leading from said receptacle to said jar and having a valve,a cover over said jar, means operated by said cover for opening saidvalves, and a float in said receptacle regulating the opening of saidfresh water supplyvalve.

5. In a coffee making device, two hot water receptacles, a fresh watersupply leading to one of said receptacles and having a valve,- a coffeejar, a connection leading from said receptacles to said jar and having avalve, a coverover said jar, and means; operated by said cover foropening said valves. 7 L

6. In a cofiee making'device, two hot Water receptacles, a fresh watersupply leading to one of said receptacles and having a valve,'a cofieejar, a connection leading from said'receptacles to said jar and having avalve, a cover over said jar, means operated by said cover for openingsaid valves, a float in the other one of said receptacles, and meanscontrolled by said float to control the flow of fresh water into saidreceptacles respectively.

7.'In a coffee making device, a hot waterre ceptacle, a coffee jar, apivoted cover over said jar; a normally closed communicating connectionbetween said receptacle and jar, means operated by opening and closingsaid cover for opening said communicating connection, means forsupplying water to said receptacle, and means for agitating thecontents-of said coffee jar, said water supplying means being operatedby opening and closing said cover and said agitating means beingoperated by Water entering said receptacle.

' EDWARD FROMWILLER.

